Rain expected to clear in time for Rose Parade

Rose Parade watchers can expect cool but dry weather Tuesday, as a frigid storm system that dropped rain on the Southland over the weekend was predicted to move on by Sunday morning, according to Weather Specialist Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service.

"It won't rain on the parade," he said, adding that the cold storm system that visited Southern California over the weekend was expected to dry out by sunrise Sunday.

The last time the Tournament of Roses Parade saw wet weather was in 2006, according to Seto.

Low-temperatures around 43 degrees are expected Tuesday morning, when thousands line the streets of Pasadena to watch the iconic parade on New Year's Day, Seto said. Parade-goers will have to bundle up with the high predicted to be only 60 degrees.

"It's good for the flowers," he said. "Everyone else bring jackets, coats, gloves and a scarf."

The weather will warm slightly later in the week, when temperatures climb to around 64 degrees Wednesday through Friday, according to the NWS.

The weekend storm moved down from the Gulf of Alaska, bringing lots of cold air with it, Seto said. "It was very cold and generated a lot of thunderstorm action."

But it dropped no more than a quarter-inch of rain on most portions of the San Gabriel Valley as of Saturday afternoon, according to the NWS.

Snow levels in Wrightwood were expected to fall to 3,700 feet by the time the storm moves out of the area Sunday morning, forecasters said.

CHP officials announced around noon Saturday that all vehicles heading up Angeles Crest Highway north of La Canada Flintridge were required to have snow chains on their tires.

In other weather-related news, a commercial flight headed to Los Angeles from Japan landed safely Saturday after the aircraft was struck by lighting, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"Delta flight 284 from Narita (International Airport) to LAX reported a lightning strike about eight miles northwest of LAX at 6,000 to 8,000 feet altitude," according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

The Airbus A330 landed safely at LAX at 8:05 a.m., he said.

"There was no damage to the aircraft," he added.

The weekend storm also produced three waterspouts, Seto said. Two were reported about 9:45 a.m. about one mile west of the Los Angeles Harbor entrance, while another was spotted minutes earlier about 19 miles west of Oceanside.

The wet weather is attributed to playing a part in a multi-vehicle crash on Sierra Road in Fontana on Saturday afternoon which left four people injured, one seriously.

Electricity was temporarily knocked out to portions of Lucerne Valley early Saturday afternoon when a truck struck a power pole on Highway 247 near Post Office Road.

Caltrans issued chain restrictions on San Bernardino and Los Angeles mountain roads as snow began to fall in the Wrightwood, Big Bear, Running Springs and Mt. Baldy areas.

Several small crashes and an increase number of vehicles on the road making their way to Las Vegas turned the northbound lanes of the 15 Freeway into a virtual parking lot. Traffic was stop and go from BaseLine Road in Rancho Cucamonga to the 215 Freeway. It was still heavy Saturday afternoon until motorists reached Highway 138 when traffic finally began to clear up.

Overnight low-temperatures are predicted to remain in the upper-30s and 40s through Friday.

Seto advised Southland residents residents to bring potted plants indoors, especially recently planted ones, to prevent cold damage. He also reminded pet-owners to make sure their animals are not exposed to the elements overnight.